Tips for Taking Great Pictures

A photograph is more than a picture. A photograph is a moment of life that has been captured, stolen from Father Time himself. Serving as a visual reminder, photographs help us relive amazing vacations, recall a child's first steps and remember passionate love.

Conventional wisdom tells us a picture is worth a thousand words. As a writer, I am not sure the saying is true. I believe that words can paint a vivid picture for the imagination while following Voltaire's advice, "The way to be a bore, for an author, is to say everything." But I must admit, I do believe that a picture reinforces the memory.

Since photographs are so important in aiding the memory as well as giving us a tangible reminder to hold dear, I have some tips to share for capturing wonderful pictures. With the affordable availability of camera equipment, with a little practice, everyone can take great photographs.

First and foremost, lighting is key. Consider the angle of natural light. When taking pictures outside, watch your subjects. People unconsciously squint their eyes to avoid the sun's glare. Use the flash on your camera outside to help fill in shadows on the face. Baseball caps will also cause shadows, especially when the sun is directly overhead. When shooting landscape photographs, wait for the time of day that the natural light emphasizes the beauty you see. Consider the angle of sunrises and sunsets. Take lots of shots from different angles to ensure the best memory.

Secondly, imagine a tic-tac-toe grid: # . In graphic terms, this is known as the rule of thirds. Dividing the shot into thirds horizontally and vertically, helps you pinpoint the eyes natural tendency. Wherever the lines intersect on the grid, is an area that the eye naturally gravitates towards. This is true of any graphic document, not just photographs. Try to position the camera so that your subjects are located in an intersection of the grid. Using the imaginary grid, by off-centering your subject, you can capture the foreground, which may help tell the story, without losing the focus of your subject.

Another important element, do not be afraid to use the zoom. Many photo albums contain photographs of the family on vacation, where the family is 1 inch tall, completely unrecognizable and lost, in attempts to include the Disney MGM hat in the background. A better plan would be to zoom as much as possible and get a quality shot of the landmark. Additionally, take a family shot in front of landmarks with a portion of the monument in the background, while maintaining focus on the family. The two pictures together will tell a more effective story than the lone shot. Another common mistake, I have seen parents stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and take shots of their children against the beautiful spring flowers or fall foliage. This shot is also more effective by using the zoom. Rather than trying to capture the whole picture, zoom in on the child. Take a picture as your daughter smells a flower, or your son picks up a handful of brightly colored leaves. Use the zoom feature to incorporate the background into focus without losing your family in the process.

Get DOWN to work, especially when taking pictures of children and pets. If you remain standing while taking pictures of small children and pets, the angle will emphasize their small stature. Instead, get down on one knee to capture them on their own level. Be prepared for the humorous mimicking of your child getting on one knee to take a picture of you. Lay on your stomach to capture a baby learning to crawl towards a favorite toy. Use the above mentioned grid. Place your child in one intersection and the toy in the opposite grid. Both focal points will stand out exceptionally well when you lower yourself to their level. When photographing pets, get down to their eye level. Try to get a 45 degree angle shot, as pet's eyes often appear off color when they look directly into the camera. Resist the urge to call your pet's name, in attempts to get him to "look" directly at the camera.

Find the appropriate background. Keeping the background relatively simple will reduce the cluttered look. Try to fill the frame with as much of the subject as possible. Avoid busy backgrounds, as they will take the focus off of what you are trying to capture. Be aware of indoor hindrances, such as a low hanging light fixture which can not only enter the frame, but also cause unwanted shadows. Outside, notice plants that may appear, in the picture, to grow from your subject's head. Simple backgrounds highlight the subject.

Remember to take vertical shots too. Vertical shots add interest to a scrapbook or photo album. Holding the camera vertically allows the frame to hold taller objects. Great examples of vertical shots include landmark shots, formal "portrait" shots, and staircase shots. Vertical pictures also allow the photographer to eliminate unwanted background distractions. Consider the subject you are photographing. Some shots look better with a vertical frame. Work with the lines within the frame to discover the best camera position to use.

When taking a picture, avoid capturing a blurry shot by locking the focus. This is especially important when shooting off center photographs. To lock the focus, center your subject, press the shutter button down halfway, while holding the shutter button, re-frame your shot, then push the shutter button. This "locks" the focus, which the camera typically considers to be the center of the frame. Almost all modern cameras have this feature. Another tip for avoiding blur is to hold your breath the second before you snap the shot. This ensures the camera remains perfectly still, which makes for the clearest photos.

Know and use your flash. Make sure you know the range of your flash. For most cameras, this is about 10 feet. Position your subjects to be within the flash range. Use the flash outside to reduce shadows caused by the sun. When taking pictures, train yourself to wait until the subject enters your range.

Use the horizon as your guide to creating pictures that are level rather than tilted. Focus on the subject, focus the shot and lock the focus, as mentioned above. Check the horizon before pressing shutter to make certain you are holding the camera level.

The best shots captured are not the posed, formal portrait type pictures. Be a creative director for your subjects. Arrange your subjects in a manner than looks interesting in the camera's frame. Look for unique angles. Try a mirror shot, by angling yourself at a 45 degree angle from the glass. This will eliminate the flash glare and create a flipped impression. Use water to create reflection shots. Have your subject walk along the beach at the shoreline where the sand is wet as the tide is going out. When carefully positioned, your subject's reflection will appear in the wet sand. Find "trick" photography opportunities. Play with distance to create a deceptive size difference. Position one person in the foreground and one in the background. Use body positions to connect the two for a fun effect.

The most important thing to remember when taking pictures is to have fun with it. Think creatively and you can create a tangible reminder of memories that will last a lifetime.